The club will support the charity through a season-long fundraising initiative with the Saints Foundation.

The Foundation supports projects in Southampton and the surrounding region and will now extend its reach in collaboration with Mary’s Meals in order to help children in some of the most deprived areas around the globe.

The partnership will be officially launched next month at a ceremony held at the club’s Staplewood Campus, with supporters being given the opportunity to attend and receive a tour of the training ground.

To have a chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to the event, fans will be able to enter a raffle by visiting CharityStars.com.

The club can also announce that all ticket booking fees for the Premier League game against Aston Villa at St Mary’s on Saturday 5th December will go towards the partnership, with proceeds throughout the year being shared equally between the Foundation’s local projects and Mary’s Meals.

Additionally, all money raised for Mary’s Meals between now and 28th December will be matched by the UK government.

“Our owner, Katharina Liebherr, has been greatly impressed by their work around the world and we look forward to supporting them.”

Southampton FC play in the English Premier League (EPL) and feature three players who joined the club on transfer, from Celtic: England goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, Kenya’s midfielder Victor Wanyama and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk. All three players represent their countries.

Originally formed as a church football team. they were first called St Mary’s Church of England Young Men’s Association. hence their nickname, “The Saints”.

If you are based in the south of England, Southampton FC will welcome your support.